The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-04-23
Your R'y'l mss" said the page.

'.Your Majesty said the page,
'rhere's a lady come who says she can
spin spiderweb.'
Bring her here cried the Prince,
jumping up.
Hadn't | better see her first, my
love?" said the Queen.
"No, no. l feel-I.feel she is the
onc," said the Prince, wildly.
usher the lady in" said the Queen.
Away went the page, and presently
the gentleman usher flung open the
door and announced: THE Princess
In came, gliding swiftly forward, a
figure clothed from head to foot in dark
purple velvet. On her head she wore
a sort of cap of the same material, and
on her small hands were black mits,
and on her feet black velvet shoes.
Four long purple velvet streamcrs hung
from her dress, and tloated in the air
as she moved forward. Her manner
was very dignifed; and, though her
figure was rather stout, she was slim
WASTED, and her movements were
swift and graceful. She came part way
into the room and stood silent, fixing
her great black eyes on the Queen.
WHO are you, madam?' asked the
Queen; for there was something in the
lady that inspired respect.
''The Princess Arachnc." said the
lady, in a low voice. II am come to
spin spiderweb, according to your
proclamation"
Who is your father?' asked the
Queen, beginning to feel n little afraid
Of the purple velvet lady.
II haven't the least ldea," said the
Princess coolly. ''In our country we
think very little of the mans side ofthe
house. My mother is u Queen, and l
am her oldest daughter"
The Prince impaticntly drew back the
curtain, and the light fell full on the
lady's c~ountenance. She was dark
brunette, and, though not exactly hand
some, had u very keen. sensible, intelli-
gent face. and she had large eyes.
which shone like diamonds.
Il am sure, madam" said the Prince,
THAT you can spin spiderweb.'
'Of course, l cam said the Princess,
contemptuously. II always
could"
To be short, the Princess was con-
to a room where n great deal Of
cobweb was laid up for those who were
to make the trial. She insisted on be-
ing left alone for three hours, and by
the end of that time she had not only
produced yards on yards of spidcrweb
thread, but had woye it into a cloak
large enough to cover her from head to
foot, and did not weigh half an ounce.
The Prince was in raptures. He in
sisted that the marriage should take
place directly. The Queen wished to
wait a little, but the old King rubbed
his hands and laughed, and hurried on
the wedding. There was no need to
wait for a trousseau. The bride would
nothing but her purple velvet
suit, which always looked quite new
and fresh; and ~ for the bridegroom,
the Princess Arachne, in a few hours.
made him u suit of spiderweb clothes.
When he put them on the Prince could
not help feeling that they were very
sticky and di ,agreeablc; but they were
so fine and delicate that the like was
never seen.
The Princess would not say any thing
about her history or family. She said
she had complied with the conditions,
and that was enough. The Queen was
very jealous of her sons bride. though
there was something strange and mys-
FERROUS about the new conner; but the
old King declared hat he knew from
his aunt that she vas all she ought to
be, and that he was perfectly satisfied.
The Princess Arachnc was very free
and friendly with all the court ladies.
Her great delight seemed to be in spin
ming or weaving, but she always shut
herself up in her W room to work.
She wove. a beautiful set of cobwcb lace
and pearls for the Princess Glenhilda,
who was to be bridesmaid, and many
other beautiful things, but no ono ever
saw her at her wheel, and she pro-
duced all her fine work with surpris-
ing quickness. She was also very in.
telligent and sensible.
Many Of the ladies, however, felt a
little afraid of her. They could hardly
tell why. Some of them said that
when she sat looking so fixed at them
with her strange, bright eycs-eyes on
whose color no two persons could
~agree-shc gave them a creepy scnsa-
ton.
During the few days that elapsed be.
fore the wedding the bride-elect treat.
ed the Prince with very little c~cron,orv